The Library Situation and Checking out Books for Dummies

Okay, a lot of people have been yelling at me because I actually side with the Librarians on the new rule (though there may be better, easier alternatives).  You're probably asking yourself if you read that right, and you did.  I've gone into the library numerous times during one of my free mods to study for a test, and I find time and time again that I can not concentrate because the people in there are simply too loud! (Not to point fingers, but it is almost always the senior boys)  They are throwing things, leaving garbage everywhere, and talking back to the librarians and aids when they are told to quiet down!  That is completely disrespectful.  Huh, all of a sudden I just wondered, where are Mr. Rickert and Mr. Trainer?  Sitting in their offices?  Have they not once decided to peak into the library during the lunch mods and try to threaten some kids with detentions if they don't SHUT UP?!  Ridiculous.  What else are principals for?!

I know I have already probably lost some readers, and that is okay.  They will go on be obnoxious for the rest of their lives, and still clueless on how to check out a book.  But for those of you who have stuck with me, can you believe that there are some seniors in this school who do not know how to check out a book from their library?  A monkey could do that! This is the sad world we live in people, and it is sickening at some points.  How can you go through your complete high school career without checking out even one (ONE!!) book from the library?  You can't...if you have an IQ higher than 10.  For those of you who do not know how to take out a book, I decided to donate a little of my time to make a step-by-step list on how to properly check out a book from the library.

Checking out Books for Dummies:
1) Find a book. (Wow, really? And no, you may not take out the giant dictionary)
2) Walk to the library desk (If you even can with all the knowledge in your hand weighing you down)
3) The librarian will ask you if you want to check out a book, you nod and say "Yes!"
4) You hand over the book to her
5) She will ask for your student ID number, say it to her fairly slowly so she can type it out (if you are too imbecilic to remember the 4 to 6 numbers, then remember to bring your actual student ID so she can just read it herself)
6)She will scan the barcode and put a stamp in the back of it, then swipe it in a machine (because you don't want to be that kid that the scanners by the door beep for)
7) She will hand you the book, you take it, smile, and say "Thank you! Have a good day!"

Congratulations! You now know how to check out a book from the library! And in only 7 easy steps!

Click this link to read what I believe is the best solution for this problem.  It is a nice way for both sides to meet in the middle:
http://hoyhehe.blogspot.com/2013/02/of-blasphemy-and-car-accidents.html
*scroll down to "Learning to Idiocy"*

I think a strike system would do wonders for the library situation.  If we have a scanner like in the lunch line that allows people to punch in their numbers or scan their Student ID's, and a computer that shows the person's face, it would work!  Then the librarians wouldn't have to do the follow-up with the teachers.  It is pretty obvious who the troublemakers are, so once they misbehave their numbers will be banned from the library for a specific number of weeks based on what they do (but they can still come in for classes).  This allows the kids who actually like to read and sometimes just feel like coming into the library to try to find a good book, still can!  They don't have to continually hassle their teachers for passes, and that means we don't kill any more trees.

(Look! This monkey was able to check out book from the library!)

(What Mr. Trainer and Mr. Rickert SHOULD be doing)

(This pass is similar to the ones we will now have to use in excess. That is we should use the Student ID system)

I think I have made my point.

An up-date and the Golden Rule

Okay, stuffs about to get real right now.  I know many of you find this years musical to be a little out there, but the hate on it needs to stop.  Like right now.  Do you know how many people have worked months, dedicating their time and money to make this production a success? Of course you don't.  You're not competent enough to look past the make-up and the wigs.  Now I don't know why you need to go out of your way to speak down on the musical; maybe you are trying to look cool in front of your friends, or maybe you are secretly jealous and wish you had an ounce of the talent the cast has and that you could have been it, I don't know.  But you want to hear a tip that could help you with the rest of your life?  Treat others the way you want to be treated.  It's the Golden Rule, and I think it would do some people some good to remember it.  Thanks, that is all.

(Well you know what bud?  We're not going anywhere and we are going to kick some A$$ this week during the shows so tough cookies for you)

(Well what if I told you that you are ignorant and that the spirit week is a tradition that has been going on for years and maybe if you stopped judging everyone you could have seen that?

Tests, Colleges, and Majors

(How all of us are feeling)

College is a big thing looming over every Junior's mind right now, and it is stressing us all out!  There is so much stuff we have to do before the year ends! We have the SATs, the ACTs, the APs, Finals, and Regents!  How will we ever manage to do all of it?! Not to mention we also have to keep up with our sports, clubs and college visits!  Our heads are going to explode!  This kind of makes me wish I had started college visits sooner...I actually haven't even visited one yet... But that's okay! There is still time, and I am lucky I already know what I want to major in, so I have been able to narrow down my college list considerably. 

It's actually a funny story how I picked my college major.  It all started with your normal road trip to the relatives for Christmas, and I had been reading a book I got out from the library when my mom said to put it down and start doing some SAT prep.  I, because I still am dreading the SATs and refusing to study, decided to look out one of the other giant books I had brought: The Fiske Guide to Colleges, 2012 edition.  I mean, who wouldn't rather be reading about which college is a party school over reading boring passages?

I had been flipping through randomly and post-it noting any colleges that intrigued me, when I flipped to Cornell.  I had a friend that went there, so I decided to read through the list of majors they specialized in, and one of them was Hotel Administration.  At first I thought that was a joke.  Who goes to college to run a hotel?  A bunch of rich peoples son's I bet (actually, this is more or less still true).  So I asked my parents and they said that it was completely serious.  I soon became mildly curious as to what a hotel administrator does, so I began to Google, and Google, and then Google some more...   I spent hours on the internet looking at site after site, and when I found out that nearly everyone who graduates from Cornell through the Hotel program finds a job within a couple of months, and many are offered one right out of college.  The only ones who don't get a job right away are the ones who go back to school to learn even more (usually about the food industry).

(Cornell's SHA logo)

When I told my parents just an hour after researching (yes, we are still in the car.  It takes about seven hours to get to Toronto), that I was interested in the career, they were completely on board! I had previously wanted to go into graphic design, and my dad didn't like that (he wanted me to be a lawyer), but this he totally thought would be a good fit for me.  It would allow me to still be creative, but also allow me to put my good math skills and people skills to use.

Interesting Facts about the Hotel Program at Cornell:
1) Students and Alumni are nicknamed "Hotelies"
2) There is a full service hotel on property named The Statler Hotel, and in 2011, it was awarded a 4 diamond rating by AAA
3) Every year there is a weekend long educational conference, called Hotel Ezra Cornell, put on by the students of the hotel program for leaders of the hospitality industry.  It is planned, managed, and staffed completely by students.*
4) Cornell's SHA (School of Hotel Administration) is considered the best in the world

*I am actually going to be staying at the hotel during the convention, and while I was emailing one of the students running it, he asked me to be a part of it too!!!  I can't wait!!!

(The Statler Hotel)

(One of the rooms! Look at that view!)

(Another shot of the Hotel)

My Life as a Cat

MEOW.  My life as a cat has been very interesting so far.  I live in a junkyard with 23 other Jellicle Cats and I am so excited for the upcoming Jellicle Ball! ...What?! You say this is fiction?! Well think again!  I am actually in the musical CATS which, ladies and gentleman, is going to be performed HERE at NHS from Thursday, February 28th to Saturday, March 2nd. The Thursday, Friday and Saturday night show will start at 7:30pm, and there will also be a matinee show on Saturday at 2pm.

(This is the CATS poster, which you have probably seen around school)



(One of the posters you have probably seen around school)

My cat name is Exotica, and I have been teased about it countless times...you can probably guess why. I am a dark brown cat, and my make-up makes me look very fierce.  I have a very sneaky personality, but am almost always very happy.  I love all the dances, but my favorites would have to be Macavity, Mr.Mistofolees and the Jellicle Ball!

(This is the original Exotica cat)

(This is a picture of the Jellicle Ball)

It has been a long journey to prepare for these measly four shows coming up.  Auditions began in November and we were thrown into rehearsal right after the cast list was put up.  Some members of the cast, depending on which numbers were being choreographed and rehearsed each week, may only have to come one day after school, and others could end up coming in four to five times a specific week. There was always dance rehearsal for everyone every Friday night and Saturday afternoon.

There are a lot of big dance numbers in the show, and everyone is usually involved (except for Old Deuteronomy and Grizzabella).  I am so happy to be a part of this cast and so lucky to have gotten in, and I couldn't be more grateful. This year's cast is HALF the size of last years, but there was a reason for that: The set takes up half the stage!  The set is supposed to look like a junkyard, and it totally does! It is AMAZING!  There are so many places to play on it and crawl around, and everyone thing is oversized to make us feel even smaller like really cats!

(This is Old Deuteronomy. Obviously this isn't the one in our production because that is played by Mikey V)

(This is Grizzabella the Glamour Cat. Alex looks waaay better than her)

 



(Isn't this set amazing?! Well, ours is a little different, but it is still really good!)

 

I hope you can all come out to see this production that many people you know are probably in!  It will be a truly spectacular couple of nights, and while that Jellicle moon is shining bright, I swear you will want to jump on stage and join in our celebration.

 (Swag day in homeroom)

 

 

(My dog was very unsure of my make-up.  I think he thought I was a real cat...)

(Nerd day in homeroom)

 

Introduction

For some reason, I actually find this assignment incredibly difficult.  I guess I am just not used to talking about myself because most people who do are not thought of kindly.  They usually come across as narcissistic and no one actually ends up listening to what they have to say.  I realize the importance of this assignment and I know it will help to prepare me for college applications, but it will be hard to get into the right mindset to write these out.  I think I will try to pretend I am just talking to a friend or that I am writing a diary entry to help me get through this.  Well, here goes to nothing!